The Prosecutor’s Office in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv has brought criminal charges against Kyivan administration officials who gave permission for construction work near the Cathedral of St. Sophia. This news was reported by the press service of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) on 19 August 2002.
The officials are being charged with abuse of power that has had serious consequences for state interests and with the intent to damage historical monuments. As RISU reported in July, the construction of an underground fitness center near St. Sophia’s shook the foundations of the church’s bell tower and led to numerous cracks in the building. Restoration work is now being planned. Source: press service of the UOC-MP